Third baseman Travis Shaw slugged the first two home runs of his major league career and had four RBIs as the Boston Red Sox overcame another shaky start from Joe Kelly in an 11-7 win over the Tampa...

Gary Leonard, Trinity's athletics director and former football coach, has announced he's stepping down as AD. (THOMAS ROY/UNION LEADER FILE)

John Habib's City Sports: Trinity AD stepping down

By JOHN HABIBNew Hampshire Union Leader

Trinity High is searching for a new director of athletics. The Pioneers' current AD, Gary Leonard, is stepping down from the post to pursue a full-time teaching job at the Manchester school.

"I enjoyed my five years as the athletic director, but a social studies teaching job opened up, and I decided to take it," said Leonard, adding that he will remain AD until the final week in June.

"I'm going to miss working with the coaches and the other athletic directors across the state," he said. "Right now, I'm looking forward to going back to the classroom."

Leonard said his job has been posted and candidates are welcome to send their resumes to Trinity High assistant principal Steve Gadecki at 581 Bridge St. in Manchester.

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WHILE Trinity is beginning the search for its next AD, Manchester High West already has its new football coach.

Vance Sullivan, a Detroit native who played defensive end at Tiffin (Ohio) University and spent the past two seasons as West's offensive and defensive line coach, is the successor to Jim Lauzon, who has joined the St. Anselm College staff as an assistant to Patrick Murphy.

"I'm looking forward to taking over the program," said Sullivan, a military police officer at the New Boston Air Force Station.

Sullivan, who said he coached for several seasons for the Manchester West Raiders program, has named Scott Lafond as his top assistant. Darren Semino will be the team's offensive coordinator, Dale Mautz its special-teams coach.

"We have four returners back on offense and defense," said Sullivan. "We have Zach Theriault back at quarterback, who has been with us for three years. Our experience returning this season is definitely our linemen."

Under the new NHIAA football alignment for the 2013 season, West will be in the same division with Concord, Manchester Memorial, Manchester Central and Bedford. "We'll be competitive against all those teams," said Sullivan.

Last season, West upset Keene, 36-14, during the regular season. Keene ended up as the third-ranked team in the Division II playoffs. West finished 4-6, including 3-5 in the division, tied with Dover for fifth place.

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MILLENNIUM Running and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats are teaming up for the second straight year to host the Mother's Day 3K race, with a start and finish at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The race, combined with a fun run, will benefit The Mom's Place at Catholic Medical Center.

Participants can register Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. at the stadium. Registration is $30. The race begins at 9 a.m. and is free for kids 11 years and younger.

The Fisher Cats are not playing at home this weekend, but the first 400 registrants will receive one ticket to the Father's Day game on June 16 against Erie.

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THE New Hampshire Roller Derby League will bring its freewheeling show to the JFK Coliseum in Manchester on Saturday, June 8. Doors open at 4 p.m. for a doubleheader featuring the Seabrook Meltdowns vs. Nightmares on Elm Street at 5 p.m. and the Skate Free or Die All-Stars against the Carolina Rollergirls from Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at 7. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

"City Sports" appears on Saturdays in the New Hampshire Union Leader. Email staff reporter John Habib at jhabib@unionleader.com.